Austintown - There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held on Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Church, 4545 New Road, Austintown with Father Gregory Fedor officiating, preceded by a 10:00 am prayer service held at the Rossi & Santucci funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman, for Joseph Victor Ress, 93, of Austintown, who passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, November 5, 2015 at Hospice House with his daughter Nancy and grandson Joseph by his side. Joseph was born March 12, 1922 in Youngstown, Ohio, the firstborn son of Joseph Stephen Ress and Marion (Papp) Ress, both of Hungary. A 1939 graduate of Chaney High School, Joseph joined Ohio Bell Telephone as an installer in 1941, retiring in 1982 as a plant manager after 41 years of service. Among his most significant accomplishments while at the telephone company was serving as manager of State Service Center, the repair center covering the entire state of Ohio. In 1980, Joseph earned his Ohio real estate license, and following his retirement from Ohio Bell, he and his wife Mary moved to Lehigh Acres, Florida, where he earned his Florida real estate license in 1984, which he held until 2013. The couple subsequently moved to Ladera Ranch, California, where his wife died in 2005. In 2007, Joseph moved to Valrico, Florida, where he remained until returning to Ohio in 2013 to live with his daughter Nancy. In June 1940, Joseph joined the National Guard, 37th Infantry Division, but received a dependency discharge following death of father in November of the same year. In October 1942, he enlisted in the US Army Signal Corps as a private. In March 1943, he was promoted to corporal, and enrolled in the Officer Candidate School, receiving his commission as second lieutenant three months later. This was followed by his promotion to second lieutenant in 1943 and first lieutenant in 1945. During World War II, he served at various locations in Italy and Corsica as a cryptographic officer until November 1945, when he was granted his terminal leave and promotion to captain in the US Army Reserves Signal Corps. Joseph remained in the Signal Corps and continued to advance in his military career in the Reserves, attaining the rank of major in 1954, lieutenant colonel in 1961 and colonel in 1968, before retiring in 1982. While in the Reserves, he served as commanding officer of the 83rd Signal Battalion (part of 83rd Infantry Division). Joseph was awarded the American Defense Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with four stars, the American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Army Reserve Medal with attachments. In addition to being a member of the Reserve Officers Association, Joseph was also a member of the Telecom Pioneers (Telephone Pioneers), Knights of Columbus (3rd and 4th degree) and the American Legion of Lehigh Acres. His previous affiliations included Mahoning Valley Industrial Management Association, Inc., the Mill Creek Kiwanis, the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Lehigh Acres. His is survived by his daughters, Nancy Christie of Austintown, with whom he made his home, and Patricia (Ress) Brown of Mission Viejo, California, and his brother, Albert Ress of Kokomo, Indiana, seven grandchildren Joseph Bowell of St. Petersburg, Florida, Samantha (Bowell) Herman of Austintown, Ohio, Jeff (Elena) Ress of Plant City, Florida, Candice (Brown) Aubuchon of Ladera Ranch, California, Aaron (Hollie) Brown of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Erik Brown of Mission Viejo, California and 10 great-grandchildren. Joseph was preceded in death by his wife Mary (Medvec), whom he married May 16, 1942, his son Joseph Edward, and granddaughter Alysia Brown. Family and friends may pay their respects on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman. Burial will take place at Green Haven Memorial Gardens, Canfield, where the great men from the Trumbull County American Legion will provide military honors for Joseph lifelong service to his country. Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences to the Ress family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joseph name to either the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Rd., Poland, Ohio, or the 3rd degree Knights of Columbus at St. Joseph Church, 4545 New Road, Austintown, Ohio.